Handle construction for mattresses and the like

ABSTRACT

A mattress construction having peripheral frame members held spaced apart by resilient means, a top wall, a bottom wall, and opposite side and end walls connecting the top and bottom walls, a plurality of handles in which each includes spaced resilient anchor members. The anchor members are connected to and extend between the peripheral frame members and are formed to flex toward an opposite side wall to provide auxiliary support for the peripheral frame members. Spaced grommets are mounted in the side wall of the mattress adjacent each of the anchor members. A hand member has a grip portion rigidly connecting spaced leg portions, the leg portions extending through the grommets to the interior of the mattress and being connected to the anchor members whereby lifting forces on the handle members are transferred to the peripheral frame members.

. I I Umted States Patent [1 1 [111 ,833,950 Pappathatos [4 Sept. 10, 1974 HANDLE CONSTRUCTION FOR Primary Examiner Paul R. Gilliam MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Assistant Examiner- Andrew M. Calvert [75] Inventor: James Pappathams Bumsvine, Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Merchant, Gould, Smtth &

Mi Edell [73] Assignee: Bechik Products, Inc., St. Paul, [57] ABSTRACT A mattress construction having peripheral frame [22] Fil d; J 22, 1973 members held spaced apart by resilient means, a top wall, a bottom wall, and opposite side and end walls 2 Appl' 325345 connecting the top and bottom walls, a plurality of handles in which each includes spaced resilient anchor I members. The anchor members are connected to and [52] US. Cl. 5/345 B, 16/ 125 extend between the peripheral frame members and are [51] Int. Cl A47c 27/00, A47b 95/02 formed to flex toward an opposite side wall to provide [58] Field of Search 5/345 R, 345B; 16/11-4, auxiliary support for the peripheral frame members. 16/125 Spaced grommets are mounted in the side wall of the mattress adjacent each of the anchor members. A hand member has a grip portion rigidly connecting References Clted spaced leg portions, the leg portions extending UNITED STATES PATENTS through the grommets to the interior of the mattress 2,194,407 3/1940 Rolstone 16/125 x and being Connected to the anchor members whereby 3,254,351 6/1966, Bronstien', 5 /345 B lifting forces on the handle members are transferred to 3,261,036 7/1966 Bronstie 5/345 B the peripheral frame members.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures HANDLE CONSTRUCTION FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates generally to mattresses and the like and more specifically relates to handle constructions for such mattresses.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Many forms of handle construction for mattresses and the like are known in the art, examples of which may be seen in the following list of patents.

As shown, handles are disclosed whichutilize assemblies that may be connected to or form a part of auxiliary side supports for the mattress or which are connected to the mattress independently of such auxiliary supports. However, known mattress handles are unsatisfactory in that they have not been designed to support substantial weight over and above that of the mattress itself or are often somewhat complicated structures which require substantial modification of the mattress construction and consequently, are overly expensive to manufacture. In institutions, such as nursing homes, hospitals, etc., it is, on occasion, necessary to move a person directly supported on a mattress (such as for example during fires or other emergencies). On such occasions, presently known handle constructions and/or mattress side walls may be damaged in such attempts and, in fact, often fail completely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION V It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mattress handle in which construction thereof not only provides auxiliary support to the periphery of the mattress but is of such durable construction as to successfully support substantial weight which may be present on the mattress during moving of the mattress from one location to another.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the class above-described which is pleasing in appearance and which does not interfere with normal use of the mattress. I

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of t a device of the class above-described which is simple in'construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above objects in mind, a mattress construction having peripheral frame members held spaced apart by resilient means to define a vertical plane between the peripheral frame members, a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite end and side walls extending between the top and bottom walls to enclose the peripheral frame members and resilient means is provided with a plurality of an improved handle construction each having spaced anchor members. Each anchor members is a unitary member formed from a resilient material in a shape to flex toward an opposite side wall to form an auxiliary support between the peripheral frame members. Each of the anchor members has an intermediate portion and opposite end portions, the opposite end portions being each secured to and adjacent one of the peripheral frame members. Laterally spaced grommets are mounted in the side walls of the mattress adjacent each of the laterally spaced anchor members. A rigid handle member of each of the handles has spaced leg portions connected by a grip portion, the spaced leg portions extending through the grommets into the interior of the mattress and a hook on each leg portion engaging a loop on the intermediate portion of an adjacent anchor member to secure the handle members to respective anchormembers with the grip portion of each lying in close proximity to an adjacent side wall of the mattress.-

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring particularly to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the views:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a mattress equipped with mattress handles constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A mattress construction, indicated generally by the numeral 10, has upper and lower peripheral frame members 1 1, 12 held spaced apart by'resilient means in the nature of a plurality of coiled compression springs 13. Coiled compression springs 13 are secured to each other and the outermost ones thereof are secured to the upper and lower peripheral frame members ll, 13 as is conventional in mattress construction. Securing the upper and lower frame members 11, 12 to the outermost coiled springs 13 positions the peripheral frame members ll, 12 so as to define a vertical plane extending therebetween. A top wall 14 and a bottom wall 15 overlie the opposite ends of the springs 13and opposite end walls 16 and opposite side walls 17 are secured to and extend between the periphery of the top and bottom walls 14, 15 to enclose the frame members ll, 12 and springs 13, also in a conventional manner.

' An improved handle construction, indicated generally by the numeral 18 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 2-6. Normally, conventional mattresses include opposed pairs of handles mounted in the side walls thereof. A pair of such handles 18 in one side wall 17 are illustrated in FIG. I of the drawings, it being understood that a similar pair are positioned in an opposite side wall 17. Since each of the handles 18 are similar in construction, only one thereof is described in detail hereinafter. Normally, such handles 18 are utilized mainly to manipulate the mattress for cleaning purposes when it may be desired to turn the mattress over or to move the mattress to another location. However, on occasion, (for example such as during fires or other emergencies) it is often desirable to utilize the mattress 10 as a litter to remove the person lying thereon from the vicinity of the danger. Known handle constructions presently employed often fail to support the weight of an individual on the mattress 10, either by failing completely or by damaging the side wall of the mattress to such an extent as to render the same useless. Handles which have attempted to overcome this problem have been of such a complex nature as to be prohibitively expensive to incorporate into the mattress construction.

The present improved handle construction 18 has been designed to overcome the above problems by providing anchor means in the nature of a pair of laterally spaced unitary anchor members 19. Each of the anchor members 19 has an intermediate portion 21 and opposite end portions 22, each of the portions 22 being secured to an adjacent one of the peripheral frame members ll, 12. Each of the anchor members 19 is formed from a resilient material, such as spring steel wire, and is formed to flex in a direction toward an opposite side wall 17 responsive to movement of the frame members l1, 12 toward each other. In this manner, anchor members 19 provide the dual function of auxiliary side supports for the mattress 10. As seen particularly in FIG. of the drawings, each of the anchor members 19 has the intermediate portion 21 thereof formed to provide a loop 23 extending towards the adjacent side wall for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter. Since the anchor members 19 are formed from a relatively heavy piece of spring steel wire, the loop 23 facilitates the above mentioned flexing movements of the anchor member 19 toward an opposite side wall 17. Also, for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter, the intermediate portion 21 of each of the anchor members 19 is arcuately formed convexly in a direction toward opposite side wall 17 to space its respective loop 23 from the plane extending between the peripheral frame members ll, 12 in a direction toward an opposite side wall 17.

A handle member 25 includes a relatively rigid grip portion 26 and leg means in the nature of spaced leg portions 27 rigidly connected by the grip portion 26. The handle member 25 is formed from relatively heavy wire stock so as to be rigid enough to support substantial weight. Grommet means such as a pair of laterally spaced grommets 28 are mounted in the side wall 17 of the mattress generally midway between the peripheral frame members 11, 12 and adjacent each of the anchor members 19. The grommets 28 each provide access to the interior of the mattress 10 for one of the leg portions 27 of the handle member 25.

Means for securing the leg portions 27 to an intermediate portion 21 of a respective anchor member 19 include the loops 23 and laterally outwardly formed hook portions 29 formed on each of the leg portions 27, the 6 ing between frame members ll, 12 a sufficient distance to position the grip portion 26 of handle member 25 in close proximity to the side wall 17 of the mattress 10. This provides a handle member 25 which is pleasing in appearance as well as one which is positioned close to the side walls 17 so as to be out of the way.

Each of the grommets 28 includes a relatively large washer 31 and each of the hook portions 29 includes extended portions 32. Thus, when a user inserts his finger between the handle member 25 and the adjacent side wall 17, the side wall 17 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 6 wherein the large washer 31 engages an adjacent portion 32 of the hook portion 29. This prevents undue wear of the fabric material of the side walls 17 during such lifting operations.

As shown by arrows in FIG. 5, whenever undue weight is brought to bear on the mattress 10 adjacent the frame members 11, 12 of the anchor members 19 collapse in a direction toward an opposite side wall 17. The resilient spring steel construction, together with the arcuate shape and loop portion 23 of the members 19 tend to resist such movement of the members l1, 12 toward each other so as to support such weight.

When it is desired to utilize the handle members 25 to lift or move the mattress, (with or without a person thereon) a person on either side of the mattress inserts their fingers between the side wall 17 and grip position 26 of each of the handles 25 of the mattress 10 and applies a lifting force thereto. Such force is transferred directly to the frame members 11, 12, which members 11, 12 form the strongest part of the mattress construction. The particular arcuate construction of the members 19 aids in resisting movement of the members 19 into engagement with or in the direction of the side walls 17 so as to prevent undue lateral forces from being exerted thereon.

While a specific embodiment of an improved handle construction is illustrated and described, it should be understood that further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire it to be understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular structure shown, and I intend in the appending claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mattress construction having peripheral frame members held spaced apart by resilient means to define a vertical plane extending between the peripheral frame members, a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite end and side walls extending between the top and bottom wall to enclose the peripheral frame members and resilient means, the improvement of a handle construction comprising:

a. a pair of resilient unitary anchor members secured to and extending between the peripheral frame members;

b. said anchor members each having an intermediate portion spaced inwardly from the plane defined by the peripheral frame members and formed to flex in a direction toward an opposite side wall responsive to forces tending to compress the peripheral frame members toward each other;

c. a rigid handle member having a grip portion and leg means extending from said grip portion;

d. grommet means mounted in the side wall of mattress generally midway between the peripheral I frame members adjacent the anchor members, said leg means extending through said grommet means to the interior of the-mattress; and

e. means securing said leg means to said intermediate portions of said anchor members with said grip portion lying in close proximity to the adjacent side wall of the mattress.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said anchor members are laterally spaced from one another, each having an intermediate portion and opposite end portions each secured to an adjacent one of the peripheral frame members; wherein said grommet means is a pair of laterally spaced grommets mounted in the side wall of the mattress adjacent each of the laterally spaced anchor members; wherein said leg means includes spaced leg portions rigidly connected by said grip portion, each of said leg portions extending through one of said grommets to the interior of the mattress'and wherein the intermediate portion of each of the anchor'members and leg portions includes means securing said leg portions to said intermediate portion of an adjacent one of said anchor members with said grip member in close proximity to an adjacent side wallof the mattress.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said means securing each leg portion to said intermediate portion of an adjacent one of said anchor members with said grip member in close proximity to an adjacent side wall of the mattresss includes a loop formed in each of said intermediate portions generally midway between respective opposite end portions of each of said anchor members and cooperating hook portions on each of said leg portions which engage in adjacent one of said loop portions.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion of each of said anchor members is arcuately formed to-space said loop from the plane extending between the peripheral frame members in a direction toward an opposite side wall.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said arcuately formed intermediate portion of each of said anchor means is convex in a direction toward an opposite side wall.

6. The structure of claim 4 wherein each of said anchor members is constructed from a piece of spring steel wire, and said loop extends from the intermediate portion towards said adjacent side wall. j 

1. In a mattress construction having peripheral frame members held spaced apart by resilient means to define a vertical plane extending between the peripheral frame members, a top wall, a bottom wall and opposite end and side walls extending between the top and bottom wall to enclose the peripheral frame members and resilient means, the improvement of a handle construction comprising: a. a pair of resilient unitary anchor members secured to and extending between the peripheral frame members; b. said anchor members each having an intermediate portion spaced inwardly from the plane defined by the peripheral frame members and formed to flex in a direction toward an opposite side wall responsive to forces tending to compress the peripheral frame members toward each other; c. a rigid handle member having a grip portion and leg means extending from said grip portion; d. grommet means mounted in the side wall of mattress generally midway between the peripheral frame members adjacent the anchor members, said leg means extending through said grommet means to the interior of the mattress; and e. means securing said leg means to said intermediate portions of said anchor members with said grip portion lying in close proximity to the adjacent side wall of the mattress.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said anchor members are laterally spaced from one another, each having an intermediate portion and opposite end portions each secured to an adjacent one of the peripheral frame members; wherein said grommet means is a pair of laterally spaced grommets mounted in the side wall of the mattress adjacent each of the laterally spaced anchor members; wherein said leg means includes spaced leg portions rigidly connected by said grip portion, each of said leg portions extending through one of said grommets to the interior of the mattress and wherein the intermediate portion of each of the anchor members and leg portions includes means securing said leg portions to said intermediate portion of an adjacent one of said anchor members with said grip member in close proximity to an adjacent side wall of the mattress.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said means securing each leg portion to said intermediate portion of an adjacent one of said anchor members with said grip member in close proximity to an adjacent side wall of the mattresss includes a loop formed in each of said intermediate portions generally midway between respective opposite end portions of each of said anchor members and cooperating hook portions on each of said leg portions which engage in adjacent one of said loop portions.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion of each of said anchor members is arcuately formed to space said loop from the plane extending between the peripheral frame members in a direction toward an opposite side wall.
 5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said arcuately formed intermediate portion of each of said anchor means is convex in a direction toward an opposite side wall.
 6. The structure of claim 4 wherein each of said anchor members is constructed from a piece of spring steel wire, and said loop extends from the intermediate portion towards said adjacent side wall. 